Amanda & Alesha join Marvin & Rochelle at Simon Cowell's Together for Short Lives Midsummer Ball

Amanda Holden wows in yellow while Alesha Dixon dazzles in pink and black as they both opt for strapless gowns at charity ball 

By MAIL ONLINE REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 00:24, 4 June 2015 | UPDATED: 00:25, 4 June 2015

Last week they pulled out all the stops to ensure they looked their best for the Britain's Got Talent live shows but Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon proved they didn't use up all of their best looks. 

The judges both attended Simon Cowell's Together for Short Lives Midsummer Ball at Sixty One Whitehall in London on Wednesday evening where they wowed in extremely different but equally stunning strapless dresses. 

Amanda brought a pop of colour to proceedings with her bright yellow dress.

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Strapless and stylish: Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon both opted for strapless dresses as they turned out to support Simon Cowell's Together for Short Lives Midsummer Ball at Sixty One Whitehall in London

The 44-year-old showed off her enviable body in the figure hugging number which flowed out into a draped skirt.

A pair of statement earrings added to the glam factor, while the TV star left her blonde locks loose and glossy.

Mellow yellow: Amanda brought a pop of colour to the evening as she wowed in a stunning yellow dress 

Covered up: The dress was much more demure than the gowns Amanda was criticised for on Britain's Got Talent

Dressed to impress: Amanda's slinky yellow dress showcased her incredible yoga-honed figure 

Amanda's BGT wingwoman Alesha, 36,  also made it a date night, arriving at her Britain's Got Talent boss' charity ball with boyfriend Azuka Ononye.

She looked gorgeous in a dramatic floral gown, which featured a strapless bodice and full skirt with pockets.

Alesha's hair was left loose and curly, while she added some classic nude pumps to finish off her look.   

A sartorial win: Alesha wowed in her own strapless number, a patterned dress with a structured bodice

Date night: Alesha arrived at her Britain's Got Talent boss' charity ball with boyfriend Azuka Ononye

Cheeky: Alesha's demure dress did show off a hint of leg as she wowed on the red carpet 

Meanwhile Rochelle and Marvin Humes were led the starry arrivals at the ball, with Rochelle wowing in a plunging, silky number. 

The 26-year-old showed some skin in her slinky floor-length gown thanks to a low-cut neckline and racy thigh-high split.

The silky fabric clung to her curves while the split allowed The Saturdays singer to show off her strappy gold sandals.

A delicate gold necklace and matching drop earrings finished off her look, with Rochelle pulling her hair back into a sleek ponytail. Husband Marvin meanwhile was suited and booted as he cosied up to his stunning wife on the red carpet.

Another date night: Marvin and Rochelle Humes walked the red carpet for the Together for Short Lives Midsummer Ball in London on Wednesday evening, a night after enjoying the Glamour Awards

So chic: The Saturdays singer looked gorgeous in her slinky floor-length dress which showed off her curves

Finishing touches: Rochelle added some delicate gold jewellery and a glossy lip colour to her look

Marvin and Rochelle have been enjoying plenty of time together this week, with Rochelle admitting in an interview with the MailOnline recently that she is loving her life as a wife and mum of the couple's adorable daughter Alaia-Mai.

The Saturdays star confessed she has no plans to expand their family right now because she has her hands full with her two-year-old. 

Following Marvin’s admission earlier this year that he couldn’t wait to become a father again, Rochelle revealed the timing just isn’t right.

Rochelle and Marvin Humes arrive at the Glamour Awards

Just the two of us: The couple left their two-year-old daughter Alaia-Mai at home for the evening as they enjoyed the charity ball hosted by Simon Cowell

Doting parents: The Saturdays star confessed to the MailOnline recently that she has no plans to expand their family right now because she has her hands full with her two-year-old

So elegant: Rochelle's stunning dress featured a thigh-high split and plunging neckline

‘I’m really enjoying my little girl’s age, she’s becoming a real person now’, she explained. 'I’ve got used to our system so I’m going to enjoy that for a bit longer. At the moment I’ve only really got time for Marvin and Alaia. In due course, when I’m ready to take some time off, then I will.’

Simon Cowell is hosting the Midsummer Ball in his role as patron for Together For Short Lives, which provides support for seriously ill children and their families.

Together for Short Lives 'is the leading UK charity for all children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions and all those who support, love and care for them,' according to their website.

'We support families, professionals and services, including children’s hospices. Our work helps to ensure that children can get the best possible care, wherever and whenever they need it.' 

The main man: The Midsummer Ball's host Simon Cowell arrived with his girlfriend Lauren Silverman, who was looking elegant in a silver satin gown

Besotted: Simon kept close to his leading lady on the red carpet with Lauren gazing adoringly at her long-term love 

Wow factor: Lauren, who's mum to one-year-old Eric, accentuated her curvy figure in the metallic number

Simon Cowell walked the red carpet with his girlfriend Lauren Silverman, who had the wow factor in her silver asymmetric gown with statement shoulder detail.

Hot couple: Nick and Holly Candy coordinated in their black and white looks with Holly showing some leg in her glitzy checked minidress

Leggy: Holly, 32, looked fabulous in her ultra short mini paired with pale pink heels 

Pretty in pink: Katie Melua chose a delicate pink dress with a sheer beaded skirt 

Quirky: Sinitta shunned a dress in favour of wide-legged trousers and a sparkly backless top

Dapper: Britain's Got Talent stars Jack Pack turned out to support their boss Simon

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Helen Mirren turns up the heat in a ruby red dress for Red 2 premiere

Scorchio! Helen Mirren turns up the heat in a ruby red dress for Red 2 premiere... and then has to use a fan to cool down

By SARAH FITZMAURICE

PUBLISHED: 19:56, 22 July 2013 | UPDATED: 07:35, 23 July 2013

It was one of the hottest days of the year with temperatures reaching a sweltering 34C in London but Dame Helen Mirren managed to send the mercury soaring even further at her premiere. 

The 67-year-old actress wore a dazzling ruby red Jenny Packham dress to attended the screening on her new film Red 2 in Leicester Square on Monday night. 

It seems that the knee length crystal embellished cocktail dress from the British designer's Jenny Autumn/Winter 2013 collection was a little too hot for the weather and the actress had armed herself with a fan to cool down. 

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She's turning up the heat on her own: Dame Helen Mirren sizzled in a red Jenny Packham gown as she arrived at the premiere for her new film

Despite the blazing temperatures Helen managed to sport impeccable make-up for the occasion with matte skin, liner around her eyes and a glossy lipstick.

With the hand fan in one hand Helen carried a cream clutch in the other. 

She stepped out in a pair of nude pointed pumps and wore dazzling diamond and ruby jewellery around her neck and wrists, as we as in her ears. 

She's still got it! The 67-year-old actress looked sensational in the ruby gown

The look of love: Helen was accompanied by her husband Taylor Hackford

Stand by your woman: Taylor has been by Helen throughout the promotion of the film

Helen was joined by her co-stars and film crew members at the Empire Theatre in Leicester Square for the screening. 

Helen plays Victoria in the film, a secret agent who has come out of retirement it's a a far cry from her critically-acclaimed portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in The Queen.

The Oscar-winner confessed she had had her doubts about starring in the first installment of the blockbuster franchise in 2010, as she worried people might think she had 'sold out'.

Pleasing her fans: The Queen actress was seen signing autographs for some members of the crowd outside the theatre

Cute couple Bruce Willis and his wife Emma made an appearance on the red carpet

Warm welcome: Helen and Mary were seen giving each other a hug no the red carpet outside the screening 

She said: 'I was a little bit, "Ooh, are people going to think I’ve sold out?" Quite honestly, I thought people would think I had sold out in a way.

'And then I realised how stupid I was and what an incredible opportunity it was to do something I’d never done before. And once I’d decided that I was very excited and just loved every minute. And I couldn’t wait to come back for the second time around.'

She added: 'When the penny dropped I realised it was a perfect opportunity for me to mix it up. I was just coming off doing The Queen and it was a brilliant jump in the opposite direction, but honestly just pure luck that I was asked to do it.'

No sign of Catherine: Helen and Bruce posed up with their co-star Mary-Louise Parker but Catherine Zeta Jones did not attend the premiere

The film - a sequel to the 2010 action comedy - sees Catherine Zeta-Jones play spy Miranda Wood, a love interest to Bruce Willis's character Frank Moses.

Helen's co-star Bruce has confessed he is 'impossible' to work with if he does not have his family on set with him.

The 58-year-old actor and his model wife Emma welcomed baby daughter Mabel last year, the actor’s fourth child.

Willis said of his work today: 'I’m fortunate in that I get to bring my family with me when I travel. And it would be impossible, impossibly unbearable for anyone I was working with if I didn’t have my family with me. I would just be moaning about that. I have a little baby, and I like to hang out with her everyday.'

At Monday's premiere, Bruce looked dapper in a black suit, while his English wife Emma wore a green Roland Mouret Titanium dress.

Red 2 will hit cinemas in the UK on July 19.

She's all white: Katie Melua wore a fetching light coloured outfit to attend the screening 

'I love being badass': Helen has said that she loves taking on the role of Victoria in Red 2

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2374072/Helen-Mirren-turns-heat-ruby-red-dress-gets-hot-use-fan-cool-Red-2-premiere.html#ixzz2ZqwJ9yFT
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Britain bursts into bloom as Zara Phillips joins Joanna Lumley and Jamie Oliver at Chelsea Flower Show

• Zara Phillips cut 100th birthday cake before sitting astride a John Deere lawnmower
• Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice set to visit later
• Prince Harry will also attend and will show Queen around Sentebale charity 'Diana Garden' he helped design

By DEBORAH ARTHURS

PUBLISHED: 09:59, 20 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:08, 20 May 2013

Zara Phillips was the first of the royals to arrive today for a sneak preview of the Chelsea Flower Show today ahead of tomorrow's grand opening.

The young royal had a look at the world famous show which other members of the royal family - including the Queen - are expected to view this week.

As the event celebrates its centenary this year, Zara, wearing white jeans, a black jacket and heeled ankle boots, was happy to cut a cake to mark the occasion. 

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Getting the party started: Zara Phillips cuts the cake as the Chelsea Flower show celebrates its 100th birthday

More birthdays: Zara Philips sits on a lawnmower to celebrate 50 years of John Deere, and right, beauty: A Papaver commutatum Ladybird plant

Right at home: The outdoorsy Royal looked at ease atop the mower

Pampas yourself: A women wearing a dress of fresh flowers designed by Zita Elze poses for photographers in the M&A Centenary Garden

Gnome fever takes over: With the 100 year rule banning so-called 'mythical characters' relaxed for the first time, numerous figurines cropped up around the exhibition area

A-list gnomes: Garden gnomes, one of which, wearing glasses, was designed by British musician Elton John

Unusual: Contortionist performance lizards at the Trailfinders Australian Garden presented by Fleming's

In the pink: Joanna Lumley celebrates 100 years of the famous flower show as she attends today's sneak preview

Blooming gorgeous: The actress, dressed in a vivid pink outfit, inspected some of the beautiful blooms that had managed to grow despite the cold weather of late

The other Royal visitor: Dame Helen Mirren, currently starring as the Queen in a West End play, took in the gardens today

Where's the cycle track? Victoria Pendleton in the Australia garden entitled After The Fire

Great Chelsea bake off: Jamie Oliver is one of the celebs at the show today and gave a demonstration in how to use an outdoor oven

Horsing around: Maureen Lipman at a colourful rocking horse stand, left, and right, does it pass the Dragon's test? Deborah Meaden inspects a watering gadget 

Walking on the wild side: Jerry Hall looking glamorous in leopard print pumps, left, and right, getting into the spirit: Model David Gandy channels rural chic in waxed jacket

True blues: Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and wife Jackie, left, and right, esteemed guests: Ben Fogle with wife Marina

English roses: Kirstie Allsopp, left, and Emilia Fox wearing a dress from Luisa Beccarias's SS13 collection at the show

There rain or shine: Former Beatle Ringo Starr, left, was on hand to open the WaterAid garden while comedian Rob Brydon was prepared for wet weather with his umbrella

Smile: Singer Lily Cooper posed for a picture she she browsed the show in a casual denim dress and cat face ballet pumps

Inspiration: Lily was delighted to see a flower named after her

Time for tea: Mary Berry joins Lynda Bellingham, left, and Ruth Langsford at the Homebase 'Sowing the seeds of Change' garden, in support of Alzheimer's Society

Blossoming: The 'Sowing the seeds of Change' show-garden was created by gardener Adam Frost

Prince Harry popped into the show before it opened last week to see how a garden close to his heart was growing. He is set to return this week to show his grandmother, patron of show organisers the Royal Horticultural Society, around the B&Q Sentebale Forget-me-not garden that has been created by his charity.

The show garden was created by renowned landscape gardener Jinny Blom for Sentebale, which helps vulnerable children in Lesotho. She said Harry had been 'passionately' involved in the design process - even having preliminary drawings sent to him for approval while he was serving in Afghanistan.

The garden is intended to represent the mountainous landscape of Lesotho as well as its people and is also a tribute to Prince Harry's late mother Princess Diana..

The Chelsea Flower Show will open to the public tomorrow and run for five days. A number of celebrities made the most of the opportunity to have a sneak preview today with those attending including Joanna Lumley, Helen Mirren and Ringo Starr. 

Spring wardrobes: Esther Rantzen, left, and Katie Melua kept to the floral theme with their choice of clothing

Work of art: Lucy Ellis wears a flower hat and seeded dress inspired by the artworks of Van Gogh

To mark the centenary, many gardens draw inspiration from shows of yesteryear - with others looking firmly to the future, including one that reacts to messages sent on Twitter.

The landmark year has also led to the lifting of the usual ban on ornamental gnomes - ordinarily, the Chelsea Flower Show has a strict ban on gnomes 'and other brightly-coloured mythical creatures'.

More than 500 exhibitors spent the weekend putting the finishing touches to the 15 show gardens, 19 smaller gardens and 150 exhibits that make up the 2013 show.
The annual show has taken place almost every year since 1913 when the Great Spring Show took place at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.

The first show was staged in a single tent and included 244 exhibitors, less than half of today’s numbers. It cost the Royal Horticultural Society £3,365 to stage and made a profit of £88.

However, TV presenter and gardener Alan Titchmarsh has issued a stark warning that the Chelsea Flower Show as people currently know it would cease to exist if more young people did not take up careers in horticulture. 

Recent research suggested many young people thought a career in horticulture was only for those who failed academically and that it was an unskilled profession. 

He said the industry was 'rotten' at PR and that the centenary of the flower show was a chance to demonstrate that those who were involved in horticulture were not thick, dull, unadventurous or incapable of doing anything else. 

He said: 'We have the best jobs in the world - growing plants, designing gardens, managing open spaces, feeding the population, looking after historic trees and famous gardens, conducting scientific research into plant breeding, pests and diseases, collecting plants in far-flung parts of the globe, writing and broadcasting about our passion - the list goes on, 60 different areas at least, by my reckoning. 

'And yet our role is undervalued by Government, by the population and by young people in particular - in every instance because they just do not understand the breadth of what we do and its importance in terms of the wellbeing of the planet and its population.' 

 VIDEO  Sneak peak. Spectacular exhibits at the Chelsea Flower Show in honour of 100th anniversary 

Sneak peek at highlights of this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show

What a show: A stunning display of Chrysanthemums at Chelsea today

The show was held during the first two years of the First World War, but was cancelled in 1917 and 1918.

It was back in full swing by the Roaring 20s, and now came complete with Chelsea tea parties and a resumption of Royal visits, although in 1926 it had to be held a week late because of the General Strike.

In 1937, to mark the coronation year of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, an empire exhibition was held featuring pines from Canada, wattles from Australia, gladioli from East Africa and a prickly pear from Palestine.

The show was cancelled again during the Second World War as the land was needed for an anti-aircraft site, and there was doubt as to whether the show would resume in 1947 in the face of low plant stocks, depleted staff and scarcity of the fuel needed for greenhouses.

Divine: A themed garden exhibit on display complete with a floral Buddhist temple

Northern soul: The Yorkshire Garden or 'Le Jardin de Yorkshire' as it has been titled at the show

But then Royal Horticultural Society president Lord Aberconway was keen for the show to resume as soon as possible and it did go ahead in 1947.
Most members of the Royal Family attended the 1953 show that reflected the celebratory mood of the country as a result of the coronation of the Queen. She was unable to attend herself as a result of a heavy schedule of commitments.

In 2002, Prince Charles designed a garden at the show with Jinny Blom, who this year has designed the B&Q Sentebale garden which supports Prince Harry’s charity.

The show has highlighted changing fashions in horticulture over the last century, from the interest in Japanese and topiary gardens in the early years of the show, through the craze for rock gardens in the war years to the paved back yards and cottage gardens of the 1980s.
More recently it has reflected the enthusiasm for contemporary sculptural gardens.

In one of the more unusual gardens the show has seen, James May, the Top Gear presenter, created a plasticine show garden in 2009 which contained only plasticine flowers. He was presented with a special Plasticine Gold Medal.

RHS president Sue Biggs has promised this year is a show for people who love plants, and the centenary is being marked by the selection of a top bloom from each decade in the last century, with the public being asked to judge which is their favourite.

Moment of reckoning: Judges gather in Prince Harry's B&Q Sentebale Forget-me-not Garden, designed by Jinny Blom, today. The garden, she says, is inspired by the charity Sentebale, which means Forget-Me-Not in Sesotho, the language spoken in Lesotho, Africa and designed to educate people about Lesotho's Forgotten Kingdom to express not only the beauty and rich culture, but also the inaccessibility and fragility of the country and its people

Colourful: Lilies of all hues create an impressive show 

Bold: Purple blooms, left, and a modern display, right

Pop art: Floral exhibits displayed on sticks like lollipops

Spring colour: Pretty daffodils, left, and lovely lilies

Desert flower: Cacti viewed from above at the Southfield Nursery stand

Pretty in pinks: A close-up of one of the millions of blooms at the show, left, and right, spectacular: Britain's rarest orchid, the Lady's Slipper 

Magnificent: Lupins in lilac, peach and deep orangey red in one of the stunning borders display

A splash of red: A Chelsea Pensioner walks around the stands

Purple patch: Visitors will be able to walk under this floral archway

Gnome allowed: After the RHS lifted a ban on the use of the figurines, this one makes an appearance

Getting ready: Presenter Nicki Chapman prepares to broadcast from the event for the BBC

Stunning: Rebecca Louise Law makes some adjustments to her floral artwork during last minute preparations

Holed up: Carrie Burgess in the See Ability garden 

Metalwork: Colourful wheelbarrows all in a row create an unusual display

That's acer! A bonsai Japanese Maple dating back to 1955 

Last minute tweaks: A calla lily display being finalised ahead of tomorrow's big reveal

Oriental influence: British artist Marc Quinn poses with his sculpture of an orchid

Show-stopper: A contortionist dressed as a lizard makes an unusual spectacle at the Trailfinders Australian garden

Room with a view: The Trailfinders display features a waratah flower studio, right, which visitors can climb into

Block out the hustle and bustle: Viking River Cruises are offering sound-cancelling headphones to help create a serene space in which visitors can relax

Pots of plenty: Visitors will be able to buy flowers to decorate their own gardens - like these Auricula plants

Peekaboo! Visitor Sue Brown checks out a trailing display... before going onto inspect the chrysanthemums

GNOMES ALLOWED INTO CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW FOR FIRST TIME AS BAN IS LIFTED TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY

The 100 year old Chelsea Flower Show rule book states that no 'mythical figures' are allowed in the show's display gardens. 

The official line is that props distract from the flowers themselves. But it is popularly suspected that there has long been a sort of gnome snobbery among the show's organisers. This year however, the ban on gnomes has been lifted. A number of celebrities and well known names have designed their own gnomes to go on display at this year's 100th anniversary exhibition. 

There's an Elton John gnome, a Kate and Wills gnome among others. The gnomes will be auctioned off on eBay to raise money for No place like gnome: Garden gnomes, one of which designed by British musician Elton John (centre, with glasses) on show today to raise money for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, a charity hoping to bring more opportunities for schoolchildren to learn about - and try their hand at - gardening. 

No place like gnome: Garden gnomes, one of which designed by British musician Elton John (centre, with glasses) went on show for the first time at Chelsea today to raise money for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening

Royal tribute: Television gardener David Domoney with gnomes based on Prince William and a pregnant Kate

Secret garden: More mythical creatures - here incorporated into a water feature

Ready for their close up: Photographers clamour to get a shot of the tiny gnomes

Trying to sneak in? Perhaps this gnome hidden in a pot hadn't got the memo about the RHS allowing them in this year's show

COLD WEATHER HAMPERS BLOOMS AS GARDENERS SUGGEST SHOW SHOULD TAKE PLACE LATER IN YEAR

Braving the chill: Flowers have been late to bloom, Chelsea gardeners said, adding that perhaps the event is too early in the year

Like gardeners across the country, exhibitors at the Chelsea Flower Show have had to contend with the late spring - but it means there will be some unusual blooms on display this week.

Soil temperatures that have been around 2C colder than on average and air temperatures also slightly below normal have forced nurseries to switch their displays to deal with conditions that have delayed flowers, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said.

Ruth Willmott, who with Frederic Whyte designed the “9 Billion Conversation” garden for charity Business in the Community focusing on sustainability with a growing population, said: “It’s been challenging on the flower front. Everything is about four weeks behind. Everyone is struggling.”

But the conditions have been an opportunity to showcase plants which are not normally in flower at this time of year. Old fashioned grandiflora sweet peas, spring flowers such as deadnettle and bleeding hearts are all blooming for the show.

The M&G centenary garden, which marks 100 years of Chelsea, contains rhododendrons which would normally have finished flowering by now, as well as wisteria and a viburnum which are both later than usual.

And apple trees which would normally have flowered in April are still in full bloom in the Homebase “Sowing the Seeds of Change” garden.

Adam Frost, who designed the ornamental kitchen garden which provides space for a family and for wildlife, said it had been 'interesting' dealing with the weather.

“Everything was like Usain Bolt. It was waiting for a starter gun and when it went it was literally - whoosh,” he said.

But he said dealing with the weather was no different from last year’s show, and suggested the event took place at the wrong time of year.

'It’s the most famous flower show in the world and they have it when you have to deal with these conditions all the time,' he said.

Guy Barter, RHS chief horticultural adviser, said that despite the few days of warm weather in April, the spring’s late start meant gardens are about two weeks behind normal.

'Cold soil temperatures mean that seeds are slower to germinate and gardeners must delay planting out tender plants.

'This means that spring flowers have lasted a lot longer than normal, and there’s been a delay in some of the early summer colour, but with a bit of warm weather and sunshine, it won’t be long before the summer-flowering plants burst into bloom.'

However, the hoped-for sunshine may not be arriving in time for Chelsea itself, with largely unsettled weather conditions forecast for the week.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2327391/Chelsea-Flower-Show-2013-Zara-Phillips-the-royals-arrive.html#ixzz2Tse2Ylg8
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